Why vouchers for clunkers, but only credits for hybrids?
An increase in hybrid pickup truck sales?Alright. I'm not a big fan of the cash for clunker program that has now passed Congress. Anyway, I hope that it leads some guzzler drivers to upgrade into hybrid vehicles, although I doubt many will take such action.
What I find more interesting, however, is how easy Congress made it for guzzler drivers to upgrade into a new guzzler, yet how consumer unfriendly hybrid tax credits have been.
Trade in your old SUV or truck for one that achieves just 2 mpg better fuel economy and the government hands out a $3500 voucher? Wow. But buy a hybrid and your possible tax credit is dependent upon our crazy tax code?
Hopefully, Congress will reconsider the current tax credit for plug-in hybrids and EVs and make it as consumer friendly as it's doing with the guzzler program.
Labels: hybrid tax credits, Hybrid Vehicles
posted by Dahcredyns at
10:44 AM
18 Comments:
I have heard, it was +4 mpg. I also hope that many customers will take their chances to maximize the payoff and get a car that is rated +10mpg.
As to our great disappointment about the bill not being too radical: it is a good idea to improve things gradually. It is still plenty of oil that is dirt cheap and enormous areas of tarsands and shale. So, we are not going to run out of oil any time soon. On the other hand, the ruined economy, the jobless rate at around 30 years high, it is all bad, bad, bad.
I don't qualify because my car already gets good gas mileage. My dad swears by the car buying process here: http://excarsalesman.typepad.com/ It is kind of similar.
I haven't tried it yet, but I might because it looks good.
I have a feeling dealers are going to automatically increase prices because of the increased demand (artificial) for lower MPG cars. So the thousands of savings from this bill for consumers is not entirely accurate. The demand will increase prices and you'll get a voucher from increased prices. I'm certain some markets you'll come out even as if they never offered this voucher. It is poorly written legislation.
LB -
For trucks and SUVs - the real guzzlers - it is just +2 mpg. For bigger trucks it's +1.
Ohhh, sugar. But what if you trade-in a truck, but buy a car?
This is such a SHITTY program. We're going to reward assholes in trucks and SUVs to upgrade to even bigger trucks and SUVs that get a mere 2 MPG more and give them $3500?
I'm so freaking pissed off...who is the douche bag who actually thought about this?
It is more complicated than most think. For example:
Q: If my car is worth more than $4,500, how would the Cash for Clunker voucher work?
A: The program would not provide any benefit if a car dealer would give you more than $4,500 for your trade-in. If you want to purchase a new car, do not wait on this bill if your trade is worth more than $4,500 since it will not provide any upside relief.
So Hummers won't qualify! Only old SUV's which I still think is good. It really upsets me when I see Suburbans from the 70's. Modern SUV's pollute(we're talking smog here) 95% less than ones from the 70's. Sure, we want them in hybrids but this is still a step in the right direction.
Noz, from what I understand, this was a good bill until the Big 3 got wind of it and that is why the MPG increases are so low. I like you would like to see a 7 MPG increase at the very least!
ZenDude:
Perhaps it was but it's not now. This is a joke...these idiots are trying to keep afloat companies that do not deserve to be kept afloat...jobs be damned.
For the past 4-5 decades, Ford, Chrysler, and GM have made garbage....in what world would any company that produces uncompetitive trash be allowed to survive?
Environmental problems happen on a scale and pace that few notice...and this is a real danger. You can see the reaction of people regarding cutting back on consumption over on blogs like Autoblog...where you will be attacked regularly for suggesting that people try cut down on things....crap like MY RIGHTS, FREE COUNTRY, etc start coming out since they have nothing else to say regarding their pathetic egos and greed.
As I said before, people in this country need to get their noses bloodied in so many ways before we join the rest of the world with a bit of humility.
Noz, I'm with you. I ride a bike with a trailer to do all my chores. I can't believe we are even debating this stuff. I don't understand why people don't get it. I also wish the program would have been dumped after everyone saw how stupid it is. My point in posting was explaining that you can't take your 2005 Hummer and get a new Tahoe and get the voucher plus your trade-in.
ZenDude:
Noz, I'm with you. I ride a bike with a trailer to do all my chores. I can't believe we are even debating this stuff. I don't understand why people don't get it. I also wish the program would have been dumped after everyone saw how stupid it is. My point in posting was explaining that you can't take your 2005 Hummer and get a new Tahoe and get the voucher plus your trade-in.
It's all about ego, greed, and insecurity man. It's as simple as that.
You can tell a lot about a person by what they drive and HOW they drive.
A car is the number one way for people to hide their deficiencies, make up for their insecurities, and increase their egos.
I sometimes wonder how little self-esteem those douche bags in huge raised trucks must have. I cannot fathom how insecure and little people like that must feel inside to have to drive around in a huge truck that's 15 ft tall...they need serious help.
And that's just one example. All this waste and pollution just so someone can "feel" good and "look" good. It's pathetic isn't it.
Its all about a species that thinks its 'so advanced' that it can afford to have a system of government whether state, county to federal system whose level of virtually complete corruption and payoffs, is on a scale that is unimaginable to even the average Joe Public.
The species is 'so cool' that it is historically on a timescale of being less than a fraction of a hairs breath away from extinction.
The issues go far beyond every surface issue of MPG's ...it goes to how campaigns are financed, to the inability of most large corporations being willing to create any US jobs and more...no one wants to change the foundation that is 'shot'....just the surface issues.
Like that TV show host says "How cool is that!" :(
...and what about we responsible consumers who balked at the profanely low mpg's of SUV's and bought "good" mileage cars (25 mpg) but are stretched thin financially and would like to be included in an incentive to replace our 10 year old cars? Will there be assistance for us? Don't hold your breath. We're the middle class and we're subsidizing everyone else's purchases with our tax dollars.
what happens when all the lead from the batteries of the hybrids gets into landfills.there should be no program for any body buying any car im tired of paying taxes for all of this nonsense.global warming is a lie perpetrated buy a man i consider a criminal.flys around in an old jet and doesnt do anything but earn money everytime he speaks about global warming.
There is no lead from the batteries. They can be recycled easily. Further, Toyota buys these batteries for a couple of hundreds, which is a pretty good incentive to recycle them instead of just throwing away.
and what about we responsible consumers who balked at the profanely low mpg's of SUV's and bought "good" mileage cars (25 mpg) but are stretched thin financially and would like to be included in an incentive to replace our 10 year old cars?
Stan, how come that your small and well MPG-ed cars stretched you financially? Small cars are cheaper than SUVs.
Give $2500 for every hybrid thats "Made in the USA" Pay for it by a 25 cent gas tax on imported gas.
LB:
In principle you may be right...but let's be real...how many people actually get proper oil chnages?
A good amount of waste is left and dumped everywhere...what makes you think having batteries is going to be any better?
Nice site. Bookmarked the site. I'll be back to read soon :)
i like stan's point.
in a way this guzzler program rewards stupidity. it rewards those that don't take responsibility for their actions. certainly, some will use this incentive to make a significant improvement in their fuel economy. most, however, are achieving very little.
this is about pumping up the US auto industry, an industry tax payers are going to, ultimately, be into for 100 billion +.
yet, the latest data suggests that these automakers - especially GM - aren't innovative nor prepared to deal with a legitimate move towards fuel economy.
this is political nonsense at its worst. and, again, it is about rewarding those that have made bad decisions, not those that have made good decision.
rationally, i understand why this legislation is moving forward, but it is still nothing more than putting lipstick on a pig.
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